Libya foreign medics retrial adjourned again

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

TRIPOLI, Sep 21 (Reuters) The retrial of six foreign medics facing a possible death penalty on charges they infected hundreds of Libyan children with the AIDS virus was adjourned today after a defence lawyer failed to show up in court.

''The trial was postponed until October 31,'' the court President Mahmoud Haouissa, citing the absence of leading defence lawyer Othmane Bizanti.

The retrial as well as questions over Libya's human rights record, have been seen as hurdles to expanded links with the West at a time when Washington is in the process of resuming full diplomatic relations with Tripoli after decades of hostility.

''Lawyer Bizanti is sick and he is on hospital. He sent a hospital certificate signed by his doctor to prove that. That the reason for the adjournment of the trial,'' said Bizanti colleague Abdallah al Maghribi.

The retrial had been repeatedly put off for varying reasons since it began in May. It was postponed on July 25 two weeks when another defence lawyer failed to show up.

Reuters SP GC1641

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